Liquid cooler for air-conditioning systems



Feb. 1, 1949. I M, Dl ZQPPOLA 2,460,623

LIQUID COOLER FOR AIR CONDITININGSYSTEMS Filed Qct. 24, 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 gw vr y w* n 'f u Q N @l Q cn, Q mf, m N. "3

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Feb. l, 1949. M, Dl ZOPPQLA 2,460,623

LQUID GO'OLER-FOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Filed oct. 24, 1944 7 sheets-sheet 2 lNvENoR Marl/'0 Az' Zoppoa BY f/JSZWWQ ATTOR YS Feb. 1, 1949. M D. ZOPPOLA 2,460,623

LIQUID COOLER FOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Filed Oct. 24, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheell 5 mlllil Il N N lvl-:NToR Mario z'Zo/Dpola Feb. l, 1949. M Dl ZOPPQLA 2,460,623

LIQUID -COOLER FOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Filed Oct. 24, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR T ORNEYS Feb. 1, 1949. M v13| ZQPPQLA 2,460,623

LIQU/ COOLER FOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Filed 061'.. 24, 1944 4 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTO EYS f Feb. 1, 1949.

' M. Dl Z OPPOLA LIQUI-D`COOLER FOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Filed oct. 24, '1944 7 sheet-sheet e ATTOR EYS Feb- 1 1949- M. Dl zoPPoLA 2,460,623

LIQUID COOLER FOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Filed Oct. 24,4944 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 il s@ INVENTOR Mario i Zoppoa.

Patented Feb. 1, 1949 LIQUID COOLER FOR AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Mario Di Zoppola, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Reconstruction Finance Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of the United States Application October 24, 1944, Serial No. 560,138

This invention relates to a system for producing and regulating roomtemperatures and humidities and by means of which refrigerator and quick freeze units may be operated.

It is an object of this invention to provide a system of the character referred to above which lends itself to simplicity and compactness of construction so that it economically, eiciently and advantageously may be employed in a socalled small house as well as houses of larger room capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ice creating and storage reservoir that may be incorporated into the system and which will so serve the air conditioning system that the refrigerant compressor system may be of a capacity to satisfy less than the peak load with the assurance, however, that the peak load, when it occurs, will be amply satisfled, the result of which will be that the installation and operational cost. of the equipment may be comparatively low.

Another object of the invention lies in the construction and arrangement of-several elements in such manner that the control ofv all of the operating units'of the air conditioning, refriger ator and quick freezeunits will be automatic and operable to produce variable temperatures and humidities when and where required.

It is a further object of the-invention to provide such a novel and eicient ice creating and storage reservoir that the heat exchange will be rapid, 4with the result that the reservoir will be maintained, for all practical purposes, at the height of its supply efliciency.

Another object ofthe invention lies in so constructing a mechanism for controlling and circulating the heat transfer medium that it may be arranged in a self-contained unit of relatively simple and compact construction.

Other objects of lthe'invention will appear as the description progresses, and it is thought unnecessary to here point them out in detail.

In the drawings I have illustrated and I will here describe a particular embodiment of my invention, but it is to be understood that many of the details of construction and of arrangement may be changed by those skilled in the art,

and I therefore do not intend to be limited to those precise details except in so far as they are recited in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is al diagrammatic View of a system embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the self contained unit for the circulating and control mechanism; Figure 3 is an elevation looking at right angles to Figure 2; Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 2; Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the heat diffusers of the ice tank; and

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are diagrams of control view on line i circuits.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention includes an air conditioning unit A for heating and humidifying and for cooling and dehumidifying as required, a source B for raising the temperature of the heat transfer medium, a combined unit C for lowering' the temperature of the heat transfer medium, after it has performed its transfer function, and for the creation of and storage of ice to supplement the compressor to satisfy the peak loads, a refrigerator D and a quick freeze unit E.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, and describing the interconnection of the units A, B, C, D and E, the unit B, which is in the' form of a boiler whose construction will later be described, receives supply water from a valve controlled pipe In and is provided with an expansion tank II. When the system is operating to heat and humidity, the water passes from the boiler through a pipe I2, a pipe I3 and a threeway valve I4 to a circulator I5, by which it is forced through a pipe i6 to and through the heat exchange coil I1. From this coil the water returns through a pipe I8, a three-way valve I8 and-a pipe I9 to the unit B by way of the supply pipe I0, thus forming a closed system of heat transfer medium circulation.

In order that the room may be humidied a pipe 20 having a valve 2| therein is connected to the pipe I2 and to a pipe 22 which is also provided with a manual valve 23 and a solenoid valve 23 and terminates in a spray nozzle 24 within the unit A.

This pipe 20 may also extend, as indicated at 20', to the house plumbing for the supply of hot water.

The unit A, which includes a casing 24 in which the heat exchange coil I1 and the spray nozzle 24 are located, is provided at its inlet end with an air filter 25 and an impeller fan 26 which forces air through the casing 24 to the space to be heated and humidified, the air en- 3 training moisture from the nozzle 24, with the result that the .temperature and humidity will be raised beforethe air reaches the space which is being heated and humidied.

I will describe the automatic control of this portion of the system later.

When the system is used to cool and dehumidify the space, the valves I4 and I8' will be operated to close the pipes i3 and I3 so that cold water from the storage unit C will pass through the pipe 21 to the circulator i5 by which it will be forced through the pipe i8. the heat exchange coil I1, the pipe I8, the three-way valve i8' and the pipe 28 to a spray distributor 23 within the storage unit C. This."spray 29 will spray the water over the iceY surrounding coils 30 through which circulates refrigerant gases with the result that the water returning through the pipe 28 will be chilled. The refrigerant coils. 30`receive the refrigerant through pipes 3| and 33 from a compressor 32, returning the refrigerant gases to the compressor 32 through a pipe 34.

To operate the refrigerator D, the pipe 3i is connected with the-pipe 35 which extends from the compressor 32 to refrigeration coils 38 and back to the compresssor through a pipe 39, there being a solenoid valve 38' located in the pipe 38 between the compressor 32 and the refrigerator coils 38.

'I'he quick freeze unit E which may, if desired, be constructed as an integral part of the refrigerating unit D, receives its refrigerant through a pipe 40, an expansion coil 4i and a pipe 42 in which system is interpolated a relatively smaller compressor 43.

The automatic control of the cooling and dehumidifying portion of the system, the refrigerator and the quick freeze units, will later be described.

It will be noted that the compressor 32 serves a dual function in that it operatesin connection with the refrigerator unit D and with the expansion coils 30 which in turn cooperate with the heat exchange coils i1 during cooling and dehumidifying.

The interpolating of the ice storage tank C which automatically is kept up to suflicient capacity to meet the peak load, makes it possible to use a relatively small compressor at 32,-and thus to effectuate an economy of installation and operation.

Describing now the construction and arrangement of the air conditioning unit A, the boiler B, the ice storage tank C and the compressors 32 and 43, it will be seen by reference to the drawings that they are located Within a housing 44 to which the air inlet 45, and from which the air outlet 45, extend. This arrangement of the operating mechanism for heating and cooling the heat transfer medium within a single unit makes it possible economically to construct and install, both from the point of expense and space consumption, a system of the character hereinbefore described in houses of low cost.

The boiler B is of the re tube type and includes an oil burner 41 of any desired construction, a combustion chamber 41', from which the hot gases pass through the heating tubes 43, and finally to a stack 49. The water surrounding the tubes 48 which enters the boiler through the pipe Il), is heated and passes on through the system when it is used for heating and humidifying, and to the house hot Water supply, in the manner which has already been described` The air conditioning unit A is preferably arranged so that it is located within the housing of the complete unit. The casing 24' of-the air conditioning unit A is provided with a waste water drain 50 which will carry away the surplus water from the spray 24 when the humidifying portion of the system is operating and the water of condensation from the. coil i1 when the dehumidifying system is operating.

The ice storage tank C is located preferably below the units A and B, whilethe compressors and operating apparatus thereof are located in a separate compartment -within the housing of the complete unit.

The ice producing and storage tank C in the form illustrated includes a casing 5| that is provided with an insulated wall 52 and with a chamber 53 which is closed by an insulated cover 54. In this tank the ice is produced and stored and the cooling fluid for the air conditioner is reduced in temperature.

A frame 54' is mounted in the chamber 53 and is adapted to support the cooling unit. This cooling unit is preferably of the form illustrated in the drawing wherein there are a plurality of spaced plates 55. These plates 55 are made of two sheets of metal, between which refrigerant gas coils 30 `are arranged. The inlet end of each coil is connected to a header 58 and the outlet end to a header 59, the inlet header 58 being connected to the pipe 33 and being provided with an expansion valve 51, and the outlet header being connected to the pipe 34 as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing diagrammatically and in Figure 5.

The plates 55 are loosely supported at their upper portions by links 50 on the frame 54 so that they may have free movement. To the lower ends of the plates springs 6i are attached, which springs are also attached to the frame 54' as shown. These springs, in cooperation with the links, hold the refrigerant unit in a suspended and yet relatively stable position within the frame which, however, will be such as to permit movement of the unit under the influence of the formed ice, it being understood that the connection of the headers 53 and 59 is suiliciently flexible to permit such movement.

I have arranged. a, plurality of heat diusers B2 between the plates and from the outside plates approximately one-half way to the wall of the casing 5i. Each of these diffusers is loosely suspended from the plates by brackets 63 for example, and extends throughout the vertical extent of the plates. Each diifuser between the pairs of plates is provided with flanges 54 which are arranged to contact the plates while the diffusers between the outside plates and the wall of the casing are each provided with one similar bracket to engagethe adjacent plate, and each diffuser is provided with louvres 65 to permit water circulation.

Thus when the chamber53 contains water or.

other fluid of the desirable character, the refrigerant gas passing through the coils 30 lowers the temperature of the water to its freezing point through heat transfer through the plates 55. As the formation of ice on the surfaces of the plates will act as an insulation (since ice is a poor heat conductor) the diffusers act to diffuse the heat throughout the water that lies between the plates and between the plates and the wall of the tank, with the result that a solid mass of ice will form around the refrigerant unit. Thus the ice 'will be available to receive the water from the spray headllfto-reduce its temperature before recirculation.

Of course it is necessary within the casing DI and between its wall and the formed ice to permit the cooling of the water from the spray head 29. and the recirculation of the water by means of the circulator Il. Thus to arrest the outward growth of the ice I have provided a temperature responsive device, such as a thermostat which is electrically connected with a solenoid valve 88 in the refrigerant gas supply pipe 38, to control the flow of such gas through the coils l0. This thermostat may be of the type that has a bulb B1 connected to a capillary tube extending from the water within the casing to the thermostat. and which is so set as to operate at a temperature slightly less than the freezing temperature of the fluid in the tank. 'I'hus when the ice forms around the freezing unit and grows outwardly it will contact the bulb and through one capillary tube operate the thermostat and cause the latter. to actuate the solenoid valve 86 to stop the ilow of the refrigerant gas. And as the ice melts the ice will recede from the bulb and with the rise in temperature of the surrounding water the thermostat will again cause the solenoid valve 68 to open to reestablish flow of the refrigerant gas through the coils 30. Should, through freezing of water, expansion occur between the plates, they will be permitted to move by the mounting on the links 60 and the springs 8| which will again position the unit as the ice' melts. Thus not only will there by space provided for the iiow of water through the tank, but the possibility of pressure on the tank by the ice formation will be relieved.

Describing now the control systems which are shown in Figures 8, 9 and l0, and now referring particularly to Figure 8, which controls the fan, circulator and humidity, the system which includes the motor-driven circulator I5, the motordriven fan 28 and the solenoid valve 23. also includes a thermostat T-l for winter operation, a thermostat T-Z for summer operation and a humidostat H, together with a single pole, double throw switch S-2 and a relay R. The thermostats T-i, T-2 and the humidostat I-I will be located in a convenient location within the space that is to be conditioned, the thermostats being that a space exists thrown into and out of the system selectively by the'switch S-2 as heating or cooling are required and the ciroulator system controlled bythe automatic operation of the relay R by the operation of either of the thermostats T-I or T-2 that is thrown into the system, and the water spray for humidifying-being controlled by the humidostat H. Another feature of this wiring is that the humidifying spray operated by the solenoid valve 23' can only function when the fan 26 is running; this to avoid unnecessary flow of water through the spray, should the humidostat H call for humidity'when the fan is not in operation.

The system is also provided with a 'switch S-2--l by means of which the fan may manually be controlled for continuous operation and for ventilation only, should the thermostats T--l or T2 be satisfied at that time. The wiring diagram shown in Figure 9 is for the controlling of the compressor units 32 and 43. The controls of the compressor unit 32 include thermostat T-I (for the ice storage tank) and thermostat TR (for the refrigerator), a solenoid valve 66 controlling refrigerant line to the ice tank, and a solenoid valve 3B controlling the refrigerant to be independently cut oil for oiling or adjustments. l

Referring now to the diagram of the oil burner control illustrated in Figure l0 of the drawing, the motor of the oil burner l1 is interpolated in the electric circuit which includes an'aquastat A-I that is located in the boiler, a protectorelay PR, an ignition device I and an oil valve OV.

The above wiring diagrams are simply for illustrative purposes and it will be realized that many changes in these diagrams may be made within f the skill of the art.

ItA will be seen that I have provided a system 'for heating and humidifying a room space and for cooling the same in which a common circulator is selectively used with both of the systems,

and wherein is interpolated a boiler producing all the necessary hot water for the heat exchange coil i1 and for house hot water supply, an ice producing and storage tank which will make possible the continuous flow of rcold water during cooling operations and wherein ice is formed and stored to insure the satisfying of the peak cooling load and yet make it possible to use a relatively small and economical compressor. Moreover I vhave so arranged the compressor that it may operate also for a food refrigerating unit. With this arrangement I have incorporated automatic controls to which the various operating devices will be responsive. l

What I claim is:

1. In an ice producing and storage device,a tank, a plurality of refrigerant fluid circulating units adapted to receive refrigerant fluid, means for supporting said units within said tank for movement in all directions, said means including links for supporting the unit and resilient means tending to return the unit to a predetermined position, whereby when ice is formed around the 'unit the latter will be permitted to move in any direction as expansion may occur.

2. In an ice producing and storage device a tank, a frame mounted in said tank, spaced pairs of plates and refrigerant iluid coils arranged in each of said pairs of plates movably mounted on said frame, and heat diffuser plates mounted on said i'lrst mentioned plates and disposed between said spaced pairs thereof.

3. In an ice producing and storage device, a tank, a frame mounted in said tank, spaced pairs of plates and refrigerant fluid coils arranged in each of said pairs of plates movably mounted on said frame, and heat diffuser plates mounted on said i'lrst mentioned plates and disposed between said spaced pairs thereof and extending from the outermost plates toward and terminating in spaced relation to the walls of said tank.

4. In an ice producing and storage device, a tank, a frame mounted in said tank, spaced pairs of plates and refrigerant fluid coils arranged in each of said pairs of plates movably mounted on said frame, and'heat diffuser plates mounted on said first-mentioned plates and disposed between said spaced pairs thereof and extending from the outermost platestoward the walls of said tank.

MARIO DI ZOPPOLA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi' record in the file of. this patent: v

UNITED STATES PA Number Name Date Bodine July 29, 1913 King Feb. 16, 1926 Number Winther Mar. 19, 1940 

